RE: Bendix Special by EcomRC
Kinverflyer beat me to the punch with the review. I must say he is right. This plane is one of the prettiest ARFs I have seen in a long time. The golden age looks grabbed me at first sight. I received this plane two weeks ago and was very impressed with the ARF. Hardware was better than I expected from a typical ARF.
I did toss the oily cheap pushrods and the tail wheel, but I used everything else. Below are some mods to the plane I did for personal preferance that other may find useful.
First, I really dislike exposed servos and I dislike them even more exposed and placed all the way back in the tail. I decided to mount mine internally closer to the CG and use pull-pull wires. Here's a pic of the location inside the fuselage.
Elevator: First I used the G10 control horns provided with the ARF (really nice, better than typical plastic ones by other kits). I shaped the horn so that I could use it for a double sided pull-pull setup.
After shaping the horn, I cut a notch in the elevator and a groove for a reinforcing wire bar. Everything is epoxied in and was extemely secure.
Next, I enlarged the hole in the side where the horn and elevator can slide through.
Rudder:
Same as the elevator. I used the exhisting G10 horn and shaped appropriately. Drilled holes for a guide tube for the exit holes in the side of the fuse. When Elevator and Rudder are finished, everything looks clean and tiddy and fairly scale to a period plane.
Also, I cut off the tabs for the access hatch and re-glued them inside the fuse. I attached strong rare earth magnets so that it canbe detached easiler than unscrewing with bolts like the kits has. Much more convienient and secure as well. I also added a Sullivan tailwheel that is much better than the supplied one.
AUW with a huge battery is 5lbs, 14 oz. For power I used a Turnigy NTM 42-38 750kv motor with a 4000 mah LIPO and a 14x8 Master Airscew S-2 Scimitar. Amp constant at full throttle was 45A and 670 watts at 14.8 volts. More watts with a fresh battery. I like to check with a low battery so I know what the minimum power is when I'm ready to land.
BTW, check your servo mounts in the wing. While testing I had one come apart and I had to re-glue it. Would have been catastrophic in the air.
Hope this helps.